Time-stamping machine.



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. EMERSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE EMERSON TIMESTAMP COMPANY, OE SAME PLACE.

TIME-STAM PING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,721, dated November21, 1899.

Application filed November 11, 1898. Serial No. 696,159. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. EMERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Time-Stamping Machines, which invention is fully setforth in the following specification.

My invention relates to time-stamping machines,and particularly to thatclass in which the exact hour and minute of stamping are indicated with(approximate) accuracy by a In time-stamps of this construction it isnecessary that the stamping-dial be reversed in order that theimpression stamped on the card or paper may be correct. It is alsonecessary that the hour and minute stamping dies should travelbackward-fromright to left-for the same reason. This has beenaccomplished heretofore by placing the dial and dies on the back oftheclock mechanism and gearing the dies with the driving-shaft of theclock or by loeating the stamping-dial and hands in any convenientcasing and connecting the hands With the clock mechanism by intermediategearing, as desired. This latter method necessitatesspecially-constructed parts of more or less complication. Time-stampingmachines have also been constructed that consist of a heavy stationaryboxing in which the clockwork is located and upon which are mounted thestamping-dies, the printing being done by a pad-carrying arm hinged tothe boxing and which in stamping a paper is pressed down upon the dies.Owing to their complicated structure and bulkiuess, these machines areliable to get out of order and are unwieldy. Besides they require aninking ribbon or roller.

My machine is a hand-stamp simple in construction, inexpensive, anddurable. It may be described as merely a small ofceclock, with anattachment in front that carries the stamping-dies.

- Theinvention consists in attaching directly to the front and outsideof a clock a framework carrying the stamping dial and dies, in providinga collar or hood that protects these part-s and may carry otherstampingdies, and in certain other features and details, all ashereinafterset forth, and as illustrated by the drawings annexed heretoand forming part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l shows in perspective the device as a whole.Eig. 2 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the framework and thestamping parts carried thereby. Fig. 3 is a perspective, and Eig. 4 aplan, of the collar or hood; and Fig. 5 is an impression made by thestamp.

The face and hands are removed from an ordinary small office-clock, andthe framework shown in Fig. 2 is substituted, as seen in Fig. 1. Thisframe consistsof the baseplate A, a disk large enough to cover the frontof the clock, and another plate or disk B,parallel to A, but smaller,secured thereto at one side of its center by pillars C, as shown. B iscentrally perforated and countersunk to provide the annular shoulder b.I-Iollow shaft E is provided at its upper end with the flange or annuluse, which rests upon shoulder b and is free to turn thereon and has theprojection E. On the lower end of shaft E is fast the gear e. The shaftG turns freely inside of E and has fast on its upper end the disk g,supported by and free to turn on'the upper surfaceofE and c. 'lhe lowerend of shaft G passes through baseplate A. Gear-wheel g' is fast on Gabove A and gear g" below. Pinion G', having the same number of teeth asgear g", is fast on the minute-shaft of the clock and in mesh with g".Stud II on plate A carries gears 7L and 7L, fast together, meshing,respectively, with c' and g' in the well-known manner to revolve e onceto every twelve revolutions of g. It will be seen that every revolutionof the minuteshaft of the clock will turn shaft G one revolution andshaft E one-twelfth of a revolution in the opposite direction.

An annular (rubber) stamping-plate D, which may consist of two or moreconcentric rings containing the clock-dial and iigu res, (of coursereversed,) is secured on the upper surface of B. On projection E is adie, preferably in the shape of au arrow-head, corresponding to thehour-hand, and on disk g is secured an arrow corresponding to theminute-hand. Vhile a very slight pressure is necessary to stamp theimpression upon the card or paper, yet a severe'blow upon the IOO dieswill not be communicated to the clock mechanism.

I find it convenient to fasten the framework to the clock by screwspassing throu gh plate A into the front plate I of the clock mechanism,and for holding the parts together more rigidly I may surround thescrews with sleeves J, bearing` at each end against A and I,respectively. I also iind it desirable to surround the body of the clockmechanism with another casing K,that projects at the back beyond thewinding and setting apparatus and allows a cap L to be locked thereto,thus preventing any one not having the key from tampering with ltheclock.

Another feature of myinvention is the hood M. This may be made of sheetmetal, and consists of the circular part m, adapted to it around thedial and framework, the twofiat sides m m, and the curved front in",uniting the latter. This offset portion forms a casing for suchadditional dies as may be desired. A bridge N, across the top and lowershafts, collars, or Wheel, (not shown,) forms bearings for endlessrubber bands carrying the desired stamping dies. Extending beyond theside m are milled heads n for shifting the stamps when needed. I havealso shown at O an offset for carrying the letter M and at O a pivoteddevice for the letters A and P. By turning handle 0 the stamp willimprint either A. M. or 1). M.

The hood is secured to the clock, as by screws q, passing into thepillars C.

Since the minute-hand of the clock passes through its geometrical axisand gear G is centrally located, it follows that gear g is perforce atone side of the center and that plate B, stamping-die D, the., are notconcentric with the clock proper, but located at one side, and thereforemade smaller. The offset of hood M is so located as to fill in theopposite side and give a compact symmetrical configuration to the deviceas a Whole. This arrangement of the cylindrical portion and the osetportion of hood M on opposite sides of the axial line of the clock tendsto preserve the balance of the machine when handled for stamping.

The mode of operation is obvious. Take the machine in the hand and pressits stampingface upon an inking-pad and then press it down lightly uponthe paper to be stamped.

It will be observed that my device is simple and light. It may becarried around in the pocket.

Modifications of the details herein shown and described may be madewithout departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim- In a time-stamping machine adapted to be taken in the hand andpressed down upon the paper to be stamped, the combination With anordinary oflice-clock of a stamping device, the latter comprising aframework secured directly to the front plate of the clock mechanismeccentrically thereof and carrying time-dies and gearing therefor, andan inclosing hood secured to the framework and provided with an offsetportion for additional dies, said offset lying` on the other side of thecenter of said clock-plate, for the purpose set forth, and substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. EMERSON. llfitnesses:

GEORGE E. EMERSON, J r., OSCAR H. MAY.

